THE FEDERATION ISSUE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12429, 19 February 1901, Page 4

THE FEDERATION ISSUE.

The evidence which was given before the Federation Commission yesterday was remarkable in many respects, but by far its most striking feature was the unanimity of all the witnesses but one on the broad question at issue. There was, of course, some difference of opinion as to details, but generally speaking the view taken was that the loss would outweigh the gain and that “it would be better to let well alone.” The witnesses were all men of standing in the community, observant, thoughtful and well informed', and in every case it was apparent that the importance of the matter was fully appreciated. Mr G. T. Booth alone spoke in favour of federation, and against his opinion that the colony would gam a great deal of trade if it joined with Australia we must place the emphatic testimony of other witnesses to the contrary. Mr Stead, whose evidence opened the sitting, covered a great deal of ground, and he seems to have picked out defence as the single matter in which New Zealand would benefit by federating. It is just possible that too much is being made of this point. The federal defence scheme must be drawn up mainly on a continental basis, and it seems to ns that in the event of New Zealand being attacked she would have to defend upon herself for the means of resistance. We have already dealt at some length with the probable effect of federation upon industry and the conditions of labour. It is undeniable that in the general levelling that would result we should be called upon to make a considerable sacrifice, material and sentimental, and it is open to question whether the cost would not be too great. It is refreshing to have from Mr Stead so emphatic a tribute to the value of our social legislation. It had been for the benefit of the workers, he said, and any legislation that improved the conditions of the workers was for the benefit of the community. The new ground broken in yesterday’s evidence was the position and prospects of our trade with Australia in produce. We had expected to hear that, whoever else might suffer, the producer at least would benefit by the opening of the Australian markets. But Mr Stead, Mr Friedlander and Mr Thomas, all of whom spoke with authority on the subject, agreed that Australia was rapidly satisfying her own demands in this respect, and that in times of scarcity she would coma to New Zealand for supplies whether this colony joined the Federation or nob. Incidentally, we were afforded some very interesting evidence concerning the possibility of developing trade with South Africa. The last word, of course, has not been said on Federation, but the daily reports of the evidence given before the Commission, certainly do net incline the public to look with favour on the suggestion that we should throw in our lot with the sister colonies. The insular habit of thought cf which Mr Booth complained, was attributed by Mr Roper and Mr Thomas to the development of special characteristics in the race, and it is inevitable that in the future we shall produce a type distinct from that of the island continent. But it is not impossible for widely different races to work together in harmony under the same Government, and the question at issue will have to be settled now on more material considerations. The experience of the past year has shown us that the true cure for narrow-mindedness lies in the cultivation of the .Imperial- sentiment in its noblest form, and there is little doubt that the Federal sentiment, which would have helped’ us to an understanding and an appreciation c.f the present problem, has lost much of its attraction for us. We have ignored the lesser in our pursuit of the larger idea, and now that the issue is before us we treat it with cold and. formal respect.